The Year in Review: Top 10 of ’10

With 2010 coming to an end, I’d like to highlight my favorite photos of the year, all selected from the Photo of the Week section of my website. For the photo geeks out there (you know who you are!), I’ve also included the camera and technical info. I wish you all the best in 2011!

1.

January 12, 2010: New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur making a save against Marian Gaborik, the New York Rangers’ 2009-2010 leading scorer, in a 1-0 Devils win. What makes this photo extra special is that Brodeur, who is the all-time leader in career shutouts (with 113 and counting), faced more shots than he ever had in a shutout (51). On the other end of the ice, Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist also recorded the best shutout of his career, with 45 saves, but took the loss by allowing a single goal in the shootout. The game was certainly one to remember! [Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 100-400mm L lens @ 400mm, 1/320th, f7.1, ISO 320, strobed.]

2.

February 15, 2010: A Yorkshire Terrier getting pampered in the grooming area at the 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. This is a common scene at the Westminster Dog Show, but there’s something about that pink hair dryer and pink rubber bands that makes the shot for me. And what exactly are those white packet-looking things? This photo was selected for an NYU Tisch Alumni show that was exhibited in October and November. [Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 24-70mm L lens @ 42mm, 1/80th, f3.5, ISO 800.]

3.

March 8, 2010: The New York Knicks in a huddle on the court before a game against the Atlanta Hawks. It took a monopod and a remote trigger to pull this shot off, as I had to get the camera far above the heads of players who are nearly 7-feet tall. I couldn’t see through the camera as I was shooting, so I blasted off a bunch of shots and this is the one that worked best. [Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 16-35mm L lens @ 16mm, 1/250th, f2.8, ISO 800.]

4.

April 28, 2010: 4-year-old Oscar rehearsing and later performing his tap dance number at the Garden of Dreams Foundation’s annual talent show at Radio City Music Hall. Technically, these are two photos, but I think they work nicely together as a “before and after.” Check out the Garden of Dreams website to learn more about its mission. [Left: Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 24-70mm L lens @ 42mm, 1/30th, f3.5, ISO 1000. Right: Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 70-200mm f2.8 IS L lens @ 130mm, 1/250th, f2.8, ISO 1600.]

August 28, 2010: Noah walking Jackson in Central Park. This image, from a family portrait session, has that Norman Rockwell/Americana/a simpler time feel. This isn’t the kind of photo you can pose, it just happens! [Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 85mm f1.2 L lens, 1/800th, f2, ISO 200.]

7.

September 4, 2010: Gael Monfils of France playing in the U.S. Open. You don’t need special access to get an overhead photo like this. A regular grounds ticket during the first week of the U.S. Open will allow you to stand on the western walkway of the Grandstand and look down at the action. If it’s a sunny day, and you’re there before the sun disappears behind Louis Armstrong Stadium in the early afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to get some unique photos. I like this one in particular because Monfils (who’s always fun to shoot) has great body language, and that ball is sitting so neatly over the foul line. [Canon 7D camera, 70-200mm f4 IS L lens @ 138mm, 1/2500th, f5, ISO 320.]

8.

November 7, 2010: Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia celebrating after winning the New York City Marathon. Unlike the U.S. Open photo above, you WOULD need special access to get a photo like this! I was covering the marathon finish line area for The New York Times and was one of only a small handful of photographers who were shooting at ground level. The Times published ten of my photos in the paper the next day, which was exciting to see! [Canon 7D camera, 300mm f2.8 IS L lens, 1/800th, f3.2, ISO 400.]

9.

November 11, 2010: The Rockettes prepping their lips at the “Kisses for the Troops” postcard mailing event in Times Square on Veterans Day. I photographed the Rockettes throughout 2010, but this is my favorite image because of the lip-shaped hats, the lighting, and the purpose of the event. [Canon 1Ds Mark II camera, 85mm lens, 1/400th, f1.8, ISO 200.]

10.

December 21, 2010: A composite image of a total lunar eclipse on the night of the winter solstice, the first time since 1638 that the two have coincided. As is often the case with a photo shoot, you get out of it what you put into it. In this case, I was trying to recover from a cold but still managed to sit out in the windy, frigid weather from 12:30am until 3:30am to get this series of photos. The fact that I endured the bitter conditions (without losing any fingers or toes!) makes me extra proud of the final image! [Canon 7D camera, 300mm f2.8 IS L lens, ranging from 1/320th, f4, ISO 100 for the left image to 1/2, f2.8, ISO 800 for the right image.]